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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: ggerke on June 08, 2017, 10:18:22 PM
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I'm now a proud owner of an A1200 that has a 4GB compact flash card with AmigaDOS 3.1 installed on one partition. I used an Amiga or two back in ye olde days but, well... please don't hold it against me.
My question (hopefully without starting a holy war) is what would be good to order for h/w upgrades and it what order? I'm not talking a huge budget but I'm wondering what would be best.
- I know I need some way of getting software to it so if there's software that will let me read an MS-DOS floppy that'd probably be the easiest way.
- I'd like to get on the Internet to telnet to some BBS's so that'd mean some sort of network PCMCIA card... or I want to say I've seen something that attaches to a serial port and emulates a modem but actually does WiFi. Is there a preference or known better/smoother option?
- I've got it hooked to a 1084S and would like to get better video. Would connecting a flat screen TV allow for better/sharper video & more colors?
And I know it's not software forum but is there a general list of utilities that people can mostly agree to that would be a "you really need this" sort of list. I know there's NoClick and I found that DirOpus is now free and that's great. What about comm programs? I want to say I used to use Baud Bandit but without a dialup modem that might (?) not be of much use.
I really need to dig out my old box of software and see what's still there and hopefully hasn't turned to dust.
Thanks in advance!
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Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.
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If it were me, the first thing I'd get would be an Indivision, followed by an accelerator and RAM.
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Rys MK2 (https://retro.7-bit.pl/?lang=en&go=projekty&name=rys_mkii) is probably the best choice for attaching mice since USB won't be going anywhere soon and you'll have the widest range of choices. most Amiga dealers stock it.
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Well, nothing is really "cheap" in Amigaland... that said, for the best enjoyment experience and ease of use, just spring for some essential hardware.... if too expensive, you'll have too look around eBay. But, IMHO, after reading years of frustration in posts and going cheap ending up costing you just as much $$$ and a a LOT of wasted time, just go for these....
Accelerator........
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1296
But, IMO, just go for the good stuff here....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1285
Scan Doubler.....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=1148
USB......
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=1213
Internet.... for getting files the EASY way!
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=121
or.....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=116
Really, that's all you need for hardware... trust me this is the easiest way to go.... although some will chime in with many other options. BTW, Indivision products just work.
Software..... gotta have.....
Internet....
http://www.ibrowse-dev.net/
Word processor.....
Final Writer
Games....
WHDLoad http://whdload.de/ game loader
http://www.whdownload.com/ where to get the games
http://www.lemonamiga.com/ check out thousands of games w/DL links
Unreal amount of software... use this, discover it, browse it, learn how to download from it.... it's awesome!
http://ftp://grandis.nu/
user: ftp
pass: any
Aminet.... http://aminet.net/
These will keep you busy for 6 months! :)
OK..... others will argue my advice till the cows fart the earth apart!!! :lol:
Oh, and install OS3.9 for the love of GEEEEEEEEBUZZZZ! Just get the real thing!!!! Me no likey the pre-packaged OS's.
Keeping it simple is what gives me the most enjoyment when installing hardware and software. And like nearly every Amiga head here... I've tried it all!!!
From there the sky's the limit for software.... audio, productivity, cheap external CD drive for USB, SH!T... too much to list..... :roflmao:
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If it were me, the first thing I'd get would be an Indivision, followed by an accelerator and RAM.
+1. All of these products are available new from various Amiga retailers.
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1148
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1296
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1285
You didn't state (or maybe I missed it) whether you're in the US or Europe. If you're in Europe, a lot of people rant & rave about the quality of SCART. If, however, you're in the US, get an Indivision for the simplest install, or something like the GBS-8220 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-HD-GBS-8220-CGA-EGA-YUV-to-VGA-ARCADE-VIDEO-CONVERTER-BOARD-For-LCD-CRT-/251959276524) for a more complicated (but less expensive) upgrade, to allow yourself to use modern monitors.
3.1 + BetterWB (http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/BetterWB.htm) (or 3.9) + Indivision + fast '020 or '030 = a really nice retro experience. I'd replace the RF adapter with an HDMI port like this guy (http://kipper2k.com/amigahdmi/hdmi800.jpg) has done for a clean look. Then from there you can start building the system out more. You've already discovered some of the ways of networking, such as a PCMCIA network card or the Plipbox (http://amigaonthelake.com/amiga-plipbox-parallel-port-ethernet-adapter/). Have fun! :D
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Dammit. Gizmo beat me to it again. With almost all of the exact same links I was about to post, lol. :lol:
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Dammit. Gizmo beat me to it again. With almost all of the exact same links I was about to post, lol. :lol:
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/e/e9/Nelson_Ha-Ha.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20121205194057)
:roflmao::rofl::roflmao::rofl::roflmao::rofl:
O&X's Mike!!!!!
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Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.
Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.
I'll leave the rest to everyone else, but I'd try one of the optical mouse conversion boards.
I haven't had good luck with mouse conversion dongles.
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Amigakit sells an optical mouse that plugs right in...
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=1258
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Hi
Can I just ask that whilst you consider and possibly implement the options being offered to you that you respect the computer in all that you do.
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- I'd like to get on the Internet to telnet to some BBS's so that'd mean some sort of network PCMCIA card... or I want to say I've seen something that attaches to a serial port and emulates a modem but actually does WiFi. Is there a preference or known better/smoother option?
Once you have your network up and running, I'd recommend NComm or JR-Comm for terminal programs, along with TelSer to emulate a phone connection over network. I've used this combination myself for BBSing on my A1200, although not recently. VIRterm is alright, too.
There are a few QWK offline mail readers available for the Amiga (if you want to go whole hog), although I haven't tried any of them.
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Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'll try to summarize in to one reply rather than bulk reply.
I'm in the US. I used to do the newsletter for the Amiga Users of the Heartland (AUoH) back a hundred years or so ago.
This might be showing my age but I don't suppose the Fred Fish disks are still a useful source of apps and such...?
I'm thinking in order of importance I'd go the following route:
- EasyNet PCMCIA wireless card
- Indivision 1200 AGA MK2cr (my old eyes + 1084 @ 640x200 is not a primo combination)
- ACA 1221EC Accelerator + RTC module (unless there's an NTP available?)
Along those lines... is there a good reason to keep the RF shield in place any longer? I suspect I'll be abusing this little beastie in the not too distant future and the less I take out and put back is the less risk of breaking something.
@rob - I tried going to look for the Rys MK2 on amigakit (the US store) but it says "Stock Expected: T.B.A."
@gizmo350 - Oh, man - either gonna have to slip these past the Finance Committee (i.e. she-who-rules) or gonna have to go out and get my Chippendale's job back. But yeah, I'd rather buy something once than experiment on "iffy" products and then go redo a shopping run
AmigaOS 3.9 comes from where...?
@Oldsmobile_Mike - Ha ha! (Sorry, gizmo made me say that)
@scuzzb494 - I'll always respect the Amiga. It's just too darn cool not to.
@dovegrace - Thanks. I wouldn't have an easy way of hooking up an analog modem nor would have a place to dial in to.
I did start building a Raspberry Pi as a BBS (I'll get back to it Real Soon Now) so having some way to telnet in to it from the Amiga would be another cool thing.
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@dovegrace - Thanks. I wouldn't have an easy way of hooking up an analog modem nor would have a place to dial in to.
No problem there. The TelSer device I mentioned emulates an analog modem over a network connection, you use it in conjunction with a terminal program like Ncomm or JR-comm. Simply enter the telnet address of the BBS into the terminal program instead of the phone number.
It's been a couple of years since I last did this, but setup should be pretty straightforward.
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I am very keen that users of the Amiga maintain the essence of the base machine in all its glory. There has been several waves of destruction for the A1200. The first being the hacks that occurred to expand the machines originally. Usually dreadful installations of 3.5" drives and the like. Next was the towerising of the computer and the destruction of the cases with just the retentions of base and motherboard. And to today with the cutting of cases to insert new fangled drives, USBs and the like. Plus the various colouring of cases etc.
For the real enthusiast that is likely to stay the course then I could probably just cope with that as these users do contribute to the greater good of the Amiga community. What is less palatable is users that come to the game after they suddenly have a shot of nostalgia but cannot live with the kit without trying to make the Amiga into some kind of modern machine and then give up when they fail. I collect computers and am very active on numerous groups and have seen first hand the destructive debris that many have inflicted on some quite wonderful machines. I rescued a 1500 that had been hacked and modified to take a 1200 motherboard and then abandoned when the person realised that there was no way of installing an accelerator in the space. In doing this he managed to destroy three Amiga computers.
So when I say respect its more about preserving a machine from the scrap heap in truth through over ambition that fades as the computer is unable to provide the desired function. These computers are old and getting older. We mustn't lose any if we can help it.
On the connectivity I have a wired ethernet card and wrote my own SAMBA scripts to communicate with all my PCs and used Miami as the launch interface. By setting the AUTO on the IP I was able also to get the A1200 onto broadband though only use it for mail. The networking is far more useful as I can directly use all the various drives on XP, Win98 and Win95 machines. I have SCSI on the Blizzard Turbo KIT and external drives for storage of files and also have CD and ZIP. The machine is also on a Parnet to an A4000D/040 where I keep my vast library of adf files that I have created.
Fred Fish disks are actually still very interesting to muck around with though less relevant today. I have the volumes on CD. The SCSI port is the only hack to my original 1993 A1200 which has been running every day since I first purchased the machine. I still have the original blanking plate if I need to put matters back the way they were. It is a credit to the computer that I have never had to repair anything. And trust me this A1200 has been used extensively and still does so. I have a small NetGear HUB on the floor that feeds to several machines so I am always able to find stuff.
I generally set up all my Amigas with Parnet, DOpus, CED, Squirrel or SCSI off a Blizzard plus internal 2.5 and external SCSI plus ZIP and CD. Kinda the norm for me. I still use the original monitors like the Microvitec though the A4000 is on a Mitsubishi driven through the PicassoIV. I have a 1200 in a tower which is a real beast and literally built from scraps of computers I have collected during my travels. Works fine.
Anyway , have fun and keep a record of your activity. Personally I wouldn't remove the shielding. I had a dreadful problem with a 1200 with an Apollo and a 3.5" where this had been done and there was an issue with shorting as I closed the case. I have seen some quite dreadful hacks of cases and insides of machines. It can be done well but sometimes it is quite heartbreaking.
All the very best. Do remember there is a CardReset issue with PCMCIA and you need to get your head round that if you haven't already. There are still various groups around that specialise in subjects like networking and the like. The fun often is in the interaction and the friends you make. What you are trying to avoid is doing anything with the Amiga that you later regret. So having discussions and doing research can help greatly. And like I say, keep a record of what you do and maybe even record it on a site blog somehow so others can share in your experiences.
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Fred Fish disks - no, not really. Pretty much everything on them can be found on Aminet, or on the CD collections if you're particularly nostalgic for old versions of software. ;)
OS 3.9 comes from here: http://www.vesalia.de/e_os39.htm
(or various other Amiga software vendors)
More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmigaOS_version_history#AmigaOS_3.5.2C_3.9
And here: http://www.gregdonner.org/os39faq/about.html
Remove the shielding. It's not doing you any good and will only slice your fingers / get in the way / trap heat inside the case. Stick it in the back of your closet somewhere, or ship it to @scuzz if he wants to preserve it, lol. :lol:
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So first up is getting the little beast on the network. I order the wireless PCMCIA card from AmigaKit today so hopefully they see it first thing Monday and get it shoved out the door. It looks like I could've gone the AmiTCP plus buying an appropriate PCMCIA card but this just looked easier. Although the AmigaKit method could just be repackaging AmiTCP with an easy installer and a proven method of working. Either way - I'll be one step closer to being connected once more.
As far as doing AmigaOS 3.9 it looks like I'd need either a PCMCIA->SCSI plus SCSI CD-ROM (which if I dig deep enough in a closet I might still have) or do the Rapid Road USB (that connects to the clockport on an A1200?) along with the fancy 2x backplate connector. I've already got the external USB CD-ROM so that part would be covered. After that in theory I'd be able to read a CD-ROM and thus be able to install AmigaOS 3.9... yes?
My youngest kid came home from a trip yesterday and saw the CRT with the Amiga hooked up and running... I should've recorded her shaking her head and giggling at the same time.
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As far as doing AmigaOS 3.9 it looks like I'd need either a PCMCIA->SCSI plus SCSI CD-ROM (which if I dig deep enough in a closet I might still have) or do the Rapid Road USB (that connects to the clockport on an A1200?) along with the fancy 2x backplate connector. I've already got the external USB CD-ROM so that part would be covered. After that in theory I'd be able to read a CD-ROM and thus be able to install AmigaOS 3.9... yes?
The ACA1221EC has a clockport which is supposed to provide better speed than the one on the A1200 although I haven't seen any benchmarks. On the standard clockport with a 68030 @50Mhz it achieves around 700KB/s, on A2000 with 68040 @33Mhz it 1.5-2.1MB/s and on an A4000 with 68040 @40Mhz around 6MB/s.
The CD drive should work with Poseiden. Reading from another thread you may need to mount the drive manually in the OS.
Another option some people use is to hack a laptop drive into the A1200 case and connect it via the internal IDE port using an IDE splitter. It probably makes more sense to get the Rapid Road since it's you can connect different USB hardware. You may even be able to install 3.9 from ISO image on a USB stick.
I think some people install the OS on CF or hard drive using WinUAE on a PC.
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Okay, so I'll go with the clock when I get the accelerator and life will be good.
In the meantime, I figured I'd go spelunking through my Boxes of Olden Junque and see if I could find a null modem cable to connect my Windows machine to the Amiga and transfer some files that way while I'm waiting for the the stuff from AmigaKit to arrive. No such luck with a null modem cable or adapter but I did trip across some PCMCIA cards... seven of them. 3Com, Intel, Netgear, and SMC. Even found a Wireless Linksys card. But without drivers all they can do is sit on my desk and laugh at me.
Oh, well - guess I can still go digging through other Boxes of Olden Junque and see what I've still got.
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You'll find drivers for these PCMCIA cards on the Aminet.
If they look like any of these:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?72182-7-x-ETHERNET-CARDS-NETGEAR-amp-3COM-AMIGA-A600-A1200-PCMCIA&highlight=netgear
then they'll work.
Here are the drivers:
3com
http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/3c589
Netgear, SMC
http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/cnetdevice
Linksys Wireless
http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/prism2v2
If the Linksys card looks like this one:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?81221-25-x-WIFI-CARDS-LINKSYS-WPA2-AES-AMIGA-A600-A1200-PCMCIA-WIFI&highlight=linksys
then there's a chance that after firmware update it'll run WPA2/AES
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Keep in mind.... the PCMCIA card MUST be a 16bit card! :)
Also, AmigaKit's EasyNet Wireless is WPA2 compliant - ready to go.
Also forgot to mention.... this item is indispensable - works perfect for storage and LHA backups for both SYS and WORK partitions. Just add LHA to your ERD (Emergency Repair Disk) to restore backups.
EasyADF PCMCIA Compact Flash Transfer Kit
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=440
Very good "how to" by mfilos
http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=673448&postcount=2
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Cool - thanks!
The problem is actually getting any of these files to the A1200 in the first place. I don't have another Amiga that's able to get out to the 'net so that leaves being able to write a 720K msdos floppy (?) and then the CrossDos commodity under 3.1 being able to read it or getting files over electronically. Dialup isn't gonna fly so that pretty much leaves a null-modem cable from a Windows machine and a comm program on each end. I'm gonna check with some guys at the office tomorrow if there's a null-modem cable laying around in a dusty corner somewhere. If not... well, c'mon AmigaKit!
No user group in the area or no buddy with an Amiga to snarf up a couple of files to get this little exercise going again. It's not a show stopper but dambit I want to play with this beast.
Unless there's an option I haven't considered...?
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Keep in mind.... the PCMCIA card MUST be a 16bit card! :)
Also, AmigaKit's EasyNet Wireless is WPA2 compliant - ready to go.
I'm afraid the AmigaKit's EasyNet Wireless is NOT WPA2 compliant.
They are only WEP, WPA/TKIP capable. So, no WPA2/AES.
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I'm afraid the AmigaKit's EasyNet Wireless is NOT WPA2 compliant.
They are only WEP, WPA/TKIP capable. So, no WPA2/AES.
Wow Sir_Lucas... you're right... my bad. :( Geeezze AmigaKit! I do really like their EasyNet Wireless software though. The 16 bit card I use is a Netgear MA401 - I flashed it for WPA2 with my old Thinkpad 600 / Win98 machine as that laptop had a 16bit PCMCIA slot. I still have the files on that machine if needed.
AmigaStore.EU has WPA2 cards though.
http://amigastore.eu/en/571-pcmcia-wireless-card.html
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Cool - thanks!
The problem is actually getting any of these files to the A1200 in the first place. I don't have another Amiga that's able to get out to the 'net so that leaves being able to write a 720K msdos floppy (?) and then the CrossDos commodity under 3.1 being able to read it or getting files over electronically. Dialup isn't gonna fly so that pretty much leaves a null-modem cable from a Windows machine and a comm program on each end. I'm gonna check with some guys at the office tomorrow if there's a null-modem cable laying around in a dusty corner somewhere. If not... well, c'mon AmigaKit!
No user group in the area or no buddy with an Amiga to snarf up a couple of files to get this little exercise going again. It's not a show stopper but dambit I want to play with this beast.
Unless there's an option I haven't considered...?
I have an easy solution worked out for the chicken/egg syndrome. I start with WB3.1 then install the USB Trident software (you won't be able to get MUI on yet). There's a couple pieces of essential software that you have to install first from floppy too. Then I start up the Trident software with the CLI, then install MUI, then the rest is easy to get OS3.9 installed from an external CD drive. I gotta get my a$$ to work but I'll dig up the CLI commands when I get home. :)
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Wow Sir_Lucas... you're right... my bad. :( Geeezze AmigaKit! I do really like their EasyNet Wireless software though. The 16 bit card I use is a Netgear MA401 - I flashed it for WPA2 with my old Thinkpad 600 / Win98 machine as that laptop had a 16bit PCMCIA slot. I still have the files on that machine if needed.
AmigaStore.EU has WPA2 cards though.
http://amigastore.eu/en/571-pcmcia-wireless-card.html
I'm afraid they are not WPA2/AES as well. They are Thomson SpeedTouch 110, they've got a white connector just like Orinoco Gold and they only support WEP, WPA/TKIP too.
I've got this card.
Here's a guy having issues with this card as well:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=71550
Your card, that is, Netgear is WPA2/AES once you've flashed it. It's got a black edge connector.
These Linksys cards also support WPA2/AES
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?81221-25-x-WIFI-CARDS-LINKSYS-WPA2-AES-AMIGA-A600-A1200-PCMCIA-WIFI
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I'm afraid they are not WPA2/AES as well. They are Thomson SpeedTouch 110, they've got a white connector just like Orinoco Gold and they only support WEP, WPA/TKIP too.
I've got this card.
Here's a guy having issues with this card as well:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=71550
Your card, that is, Netgear is WPA2/AES once you've flashed it. It's got a black edge connector.
These Linksys cards also support WPA2/AES
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?81221-25-x-WIFI-CARDS-LINKSYS-WPA2-AES-AMIGA-A600-A1200-PCMCIA-WIFI
Well no wonder peeps have so much trouble with these cards with their newer routers! My Netgear just worked straight away after I flashed it! The EasyNet software then just worked straight away. You're probably wondering how I got the EasyNet software while using a wireless card I got off eBay... I had previously bought AmigaKit's ethernet card with EasyNet - which also worked with my wireless card after I manually installed wireless.device from the disk.
But anyhoo, the best way to start is just get the USB adapter installed and fire up Trident under OS3.1... it's all downhill after that. You could always get the ethernet card in addition since this stuff is (relatively) inexpensive. LOL, told ya nothing was "cheap" in Miggyland! :lol: But, it's all good fun! Gotta go! :)
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Cool - thanks!
The problem is actually getting any of these files to the A1200 in the first place. I don't have another Amiga that's able to get out to the 'net so that leaves being able to write a 720K msdos floppy (?) and then the CrossDos commodity under 3.1 being able to read it or getting files over electronically. Dialup isn't gonna fly so that pretty much leaves a null-modem cable from a Windows machine and a comm program on each end. I'm gonna check with some guys at the office tomorrow if there's a null-modem cable laying around in a dusty corner somewhere. If not... well, c'mon AmigaKit!
No user group in the area or no buddy with an Amiga to snarf up a couple of files to get this little exercise going again. It's not a show stopper but dambit I want to play with this beast.
Unless there's an option I haven't considered...?
You could try the way I set up a CF card for my A1200 - but it does depend if you have a pc with PATA on it you can attach the CF card onto. Then you have two options - start up WinUAE, with the card mounted, and install from there, or boot the pc into AROS (e.g. via Icaros live DVD/CD, if, of course, your harware is compatable) and copy the files across from your install media using that (by that I mean the CBM files, not AROS 68k - that would be {currently} too slow on an unexpanded A1200).
Cheers,
Nigel.
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Progress! I checked around the office and found a USB->9pin serial and a null modem cable. I combined that with the 9-pin -> 25-pin adapter I already had. I did find an old floppy with Handshake on it for the Amiga side... then after setting the port speed and finding a serial program for my Windows machine I was able to transfer the Amiga Explorer from the Amiga Forever over to the Amiga and shovel over a few files. Granted, it was the equivalent of molasses in winter but I've got nothing but time.
I did get NoClick and DirectoryOpus over there along with lha so I can undo whatever I run across. Now the question is what handy stuff do I need while I can hog this cable. Is MUI still a thing? I'm not terribly big on games (with the reaction time of a 19.2K serial transfer) but there's gotta be some must haves for general use... although that's leaving the hardware forum and heading towards software so maybe I should fire up a new thread over in that forum (if I can't find something already there).
I can't keep the cable forever (and honestly at 19.2K I'm not sure what I'd really want to send that wouldn't end up being an overnight transfer). Even the 10MB PCMCIA card is looking like a speed demon at this point.
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@ggerke
That makes my Zip Drive solutions look like space age technology! :-)
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Is MUI still a thing?
MUI is used for a fair amount of productivity apps, web browsers, etc. Make sure you get version 3.8 from Aminet and not one of the later 3.9/4.0/4.1/etc. versions, which require a heavily expanded system to work well. Good progress so far, congrats! :)
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You can still register MUI, too. I registered it myself last month (after 20+ years) although Stefan issued me a temporary keyfile as his A3000 was down, thus unable to generate a new keyfile.
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@ggerke
What network cards have you found in your box? If you could transfer the ethernet drivers then you could transfer files via FTP much quicker. Just Roadshow or AmiTCP and AmiFTP. Even with a stock A1200 it's possible.
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I do have a wireless card on the way from AmigaKit but with the talk of no WPA2 maybe I'll need a fall back position...
Wired:
3Com: 3C589D, 3C589D-TP
3Com Megahertz: 3CCE589ET
SMC: SMC8040TX
Netgear: FA410TX
Intel: PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 PC Card
Wireless:
Linksys: WPC54GS v2
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I do have a wireless card on the way from AmigaKit but with the talk of no WPA2 maybe I'll need a fall back position...
I'm sorry to say that, but no WPA2/AES - only WEP, WPA/TKIP. Can you check if you can set up your router into WPA only and TKIP only. No mixed mode.
These cards work with the 3c589 driver
Wired:
3Com: 3C589D, 3C589D-TP
3Com Megahertz: 3CCE589ET
http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/3c589
SMC: SMC8040TX - this card does not work with Amiga
Netgear: FA410TX
This one uses cnet drivers
http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/cnetdevice
Intel: PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 PC Card - this card does not work with Amiga
Wireless:
Linksys: WPC54GS v2 - this card does not work with Amiga, it's 32-bit card bus. Amiga is 16-bit PCMCIA.
I also suggest you have a look at a Roadshow TCP/IP stack.
It supports DHCP.
http://roadshow.apc-tcp.de/index-en.php
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So I figured I'd give an update on the current status of the A1200 in case anybody has been having real problems sleeping at night waiting for the current state of affairs ;)
I did receive the wireless Easynet card in the mail (surprisingly quick considering it's coming from across the pond from AmigaKit). I don't think there were any problems loading the drivers for it but then I went to go do MiamiDX and started having a few issues. I'm wondering if it's because I still have the base memory & cpu that the thing just doesn't have the horsepower or if it's because I've been slapping on different pieces of software in a desperate attempt to revive long dead brain cells. It's not frustration, mind you - it's just a blast being on an Amiga again. I've added alot of stuff that wasn't what I was expecting or just wasn't worth it to me in the short run... and I wouldn't rule out the possibility that something I added is getting in the way of the Easynet drivers and/or MiamiDX. I do know that the memory was getting sucked up and didn't seem to be getting returned once I killed apps.
Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and get the accelerator + memory and stop putting myself through misery...? Or really save myself the trouble and get the video card at the same time and start out from where I can get to having some real fun...
So at this point, since I'm not that far in to it is to just wipe and start over and see how it ends up. No real reason to back up everything since I've got the packages elsewhere that I can always copy back via Amiga Explorer.
P.S. copying files at 19.2K is a good task to let run overnight... even if the files tend to be on the small side.
I figure once I restart I'll go with the stuff that I know I liked:
- DOpus
- KingCON
- MagicWB
- NoClick
- ReqTools
- WindowToFront
- lha
- MUI
- WBGauge
- TurboText
I did try sending an email off about registering the MUI & MagicWB as the registration for MagicWB wasn't available... but no response yet.
Anyway, still more to come.
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Okay - after some unexpected expenses ("But grandkids - don't you want me to have new toys before you get them? No? Sigh, okay...") I'm back for another round of fun. I did go and order an Indivision AGA MK2cr and the ACA1221ec so now I've got more speed, memory, and better video. What a difference over the stock machine.
I did read about adding in HighGFX from Aminet and that lets me get the screen to use from top to bottom but I've got about 2"-3" black bars on the side of the screen. Since I'm apparently a greedy guy is there something I'm missing that'll let me use that screen real estate as well? The monitor I hooked up is a Viewsonic VS13239 (that is suppose to do 1920 x 1080) if that makes a difference.
Even if I can't I'm a much happier camper now... although my old 1084S is looking pretty depressed since I only seem to drag it out for the odd emergency every decade or so.
With the better video there's now the minor issue of the mouse pointer. It's not exactly a resolution that looks good with this video. I guess I'll start in on aminet looking through the mouse pointer directory for something that'll fit the bill.
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You're not going to get 1920x1080 with that hardware, but you can try the HD720 screenmode for a widescreen experience in Workbench and apps that support it. :)
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Well, that answered that question. So with the hardware I've got here then a widescreen monitor is pretty much overkill and I could go with a "regular" width monitor and get a full screen... yes?
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Well, that answered that question. So with the hardware I've got here then a widescreen monitor is pretty much overkill and I could go with a "regular" width monitor and get a full screen... yes?
Yes. Although most manufacturers no longer produce "old fashion" 4:3 aspect ratio monitors. You can still find them pretty often on the used market, though. I have a nice 20.1" Dell UltraSharp that I use with my A2000, works great.
Alternatively you could use the display settings on your screen to stretch the image to get rid of the black bars on the sides, but some purists hate that look. ;)
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I did read about adding in HighGFX from Aminet and that lets me get the screen to use from top to bottom but I've got about 2"-3" black bars on the side of the screen. Since I'm apparently a greedy guy is there something I'm missing that'll let me use that screen real estate as well? The monitor I hooked up is a Viewsonic VS13239 (that is suppose to do 1920 x 1080) if that makes a difference.
Have you downloaded and installed the Indi AGA MK2CR tools?
Config/Flash tool V1.1beta and cores V2.6 - for use with all Indivision AGA MK2 models including MK2cr
Config tool version V1.5 - use together with cores V2.6.
http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/Indivision_AGA_MK2
And of course, lot's of tech-no-babble on EAB...
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=78685
Install tips on AmiBay... just in case.
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?47415-Indivision-1200-AGA-MK2cr-Help-Required
And lots of Google results... :)
https://www.google.com/search?q=indivision+aga+mk2cr&btnG=Search&hl=en&gbv=1
These scan doubler config tools can be tricky but they can really help in setting up your screen.
Even if you don't use the config tool, I would advise checking to see if you have the latest FPGA core. A lot of times these don't come with the latest core.
Also, to fill the screen, you could try using the Overscan Tool in System Prefs.
Congrats on all your new toys! :)
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Also, to fill the screen, you could try using the Overscan Tool in System Prefs.
D'oh, overscan! I've had that turned on for so long on my A500 I quite forgot about it, lol. ;)
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Because I know everybody has been waiting anxiously to hear about what's been going on (other more important life issues got in the way so once again my little A1200 had to sit idle) I figured I'd put out an update.
I went and bought a WiModem232 with the OLED and it arrived last Friday - right at the start of a three day weekend where the weather pretty much says "Keep your large arse inside 'cause it's freakishly cold out here." Not being one to argue I did as instructed. I will say the installation was nothing but easy - plug it in to the serial port and away I go. I'm on my quest to find a comm program that I'm happy with to get to the various telnet bbs sites. So far Terminus is in the lead as the rest aren't quite cutting it. I thought I'd I'd give ncomm a try but it goes right to the guru meditation error every time on my setup.
Anyway, since up until this point I've just been plopping on any old thing from ye olden days the machine was acting all kinds of flaky so I figured since there's nothing really vital I'd go ahead and just wipe it out and start over from scratch now that I've had a little time with it.
Sure wish I'd saved lha and Amiga Explorer off to a floppy before I'd done the big wipe. Oh, well - there's a reason I'm more pretty than smart. Anyway, went through the steps of getting Amiga Explorer back on so I can copy files from the PC over to the Amiga and now I can at least populate files over to the A1200 again. Granted, it's at a blazing 19.2K but still - it works in a pinch.
So now I'm off to reload just the stuff that I know I want before moving forward to more goodies.